Essential Home Projects to Reduce the Risk of Damage to Your Property

As a homeowner, it’s not unusual to worry about damage. Your home is more than just a major investment. It’s also shelter and comfort for your family.

While DIY renovators often focus on projects that will upgrade the value of their home or add to their quality of life, there’s a lot to be said for renovations that will reduce the risk of damage to your property or mitigate damage when the elements become extreme.

There are projects you can tackle that can reduce the risk of damage to your property or mitigate damage when it does happen, whether you’re worried about fires, flooding, or extreme weather events.

Before you take on these projects, make sure you get all of the inspections and permits you need. The idea behind renovating your home for protection is to reduce risks. An improperly done renovation could jeopardize any future homeowners insurance claims you need to make.

New Roof

A new roof is one of the biggest factors in preventing insurance claims, to begin with. The average lifespan of asphalt shingles is roughly 15 to 30 years, though that will also depend on factors such as weather and pests. When you have made the decision to replace your roof look for a trusted roofing contractor, like Mighty Dog Roofing Naples, who has the experience and a good reputation.

Your roof can be damaged from a number of sources, including:

• High winds and storm damage
• Falling trees
• Embers from nearby wildfires leading to a fire

A new roof can help prevent weather damage, while those who live in wildfire zones can consider composite, metal, tile, or clay shingles instead of wood or asphalt.

Safe Outdoor Storage

If you barbecue or use propane for any reason, you need a safe place to store both full and empty propane tanks. Storing them close to your home can be a significant fire risk if any of them were to explode.

Propane tanks should not be stored in a shed, garage, or anywhere indoors. Build a safe storage area that’s open, well-ventilated, and flat to prevent them from falling over. Solid, dry surfaces such as one made of cinder blocks up off the ground can work. Tanks should also be kept 10 feet away from any flammable materials.

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Insulate Pipes

Preventing pipes from freezing and bursting in the depths of winter can spare your home from extensive water damage. You want to keep them sufficiently heated in a cold snap.

While an electrical heat cable is a popular way to handle cold spells, it won’t help in a power outage. Insulating water supply lines in exposed parts of your home will prevent freezing in the first place and avoid bursts.

Defend Against Wildfires

Living in a wildfire zone can feel hair-raising at times. As wildfires become bigger, more dangerous, and more frequent, consider making your next project preparing your home for a wildfire.

In addition to redoing your roof with flame-resistant materials, a good place to start is outside. Installing other fire-resistant materials on the outside of your home can reduce the risks of embers catching. That means using non-combustible materials in eaves and soffits, siding, rain gutters, and decks. You will also want to space out fences and landscaping to create distance between tall, flammable objects and your home.